The student center is the hub of BC campus student activity. It houses student lounges, coffee shops, meeting rooms and study areas as well as the college cafeteria. The second floor of the complex is home to student government, a variety of clubs and the campus newspaper, the Jibsheet.

Floten’s tenure as Bellevue College president began in 1989. She announced her resignation in May. The BC Board of Trustees has appointed Laura Saunders as interim president and begun a national search for a new president. The public is invited to provide input on the Presidential search at http://depts.bellevuecollege.edu/presidentsearch/

For more information see www.bellevuecollege.edu

“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Western Governors University to create WGU Washington,” Mrs. Floten said. “I am committed to higher education because it has the power to improve lives and livelihoods. WGU Washington gives more Washington students access to a high-quality, affordable education. Plus, students are recognized for what they already know and progress at their own pace to complete their degrees. High touch is another attribute that appealed to me—each student is assigned a mentor and subject-matter experts to guide them through their education at every step along the way. It is a great model that will benefit Washington students.”

“Jean Floten has been a leading force in Washington higher education for many years, and her leadership will help ensure that WGU Washington meets the needs of our students and the businesses that will employ them,” said Western Governors University President Robert W. Mendenhall. “Her experience with the state’s community college system makes her an ideal fit for WGU Washington, which was created in part to offer additional transfer capacity for community college graduates to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Mrs. Floten brings great talent and broad experience in Washington higher education, and we know she will be instrumental in WGU Washington’s success.”

Mrs. Floten joins WGU Washington after leading Bellevue College for more than 20 years, where she developed the college from Bellevue Community College into an innovative, nationally acclaimed institution. Recognized as a leader in higher education, she is often asked to speak throughout the state and nation on technology education, funding, innovations in teaching, diversity, student access, and other education issues. Prior to coming to Bellevue College, Mrs. Floten was Executive Vice President at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington, where she served previously as Dean of Student Services and Director of Student Programs. Mrs. Floten serves on the national community college advisory board of Educational Testing Service and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and the Key Bank Advisory Board. She was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by City University in 2006 and earned Master of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Portland State University.

WGU Washington was established by the State Legislature in partnership with nationally recognized and accredited Western Governors University. The nonprofit university, which receives no funding from the state, was created to expand access to higher education for Washington residents. WGU Washington offers 50 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, information technology, teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. The university’s competency-based learning model is designed to meet the needs of working adults, offering them an affordable, flexible option for earning an accredited college degree that is recognized and respected by employers.

WGU Washington’s academic model is unique—rather than earning degrees based on credit hours or time spent in class, students are required to demonstrate competency in degree subject matter. They advance by writing papers, completing assignments, and passing exams that demonstrate their knowledge of required subject matter. This allows students to move quickly through areas where they have prior work or academic experience and focus on the areas they still need to learn. Learning is individualized and guided by the one-on-one support of a faculty mentor. Degree programs are rigorous and challenging, but designed to allow students to schedule their studies to accommodate work and family obligations. Tuition is affordable, approximately $6,000 per year for most degree programs, and federal financial aid is available.

For more information, visit the WGU Washington website, http://washington.wgu.edu/.

The award, to be presented at the chapter’s May 18 Spring Luncheon, honors Floten for making education more accessible by bringing baccalaureate degrees to Bellevue College.

Known nationally for its innovative programs, Bellevue College offers two baccalaureate degrees: a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Radiation and Imaging Sciences, launched in 2007, and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Interior Design launched in January of this year.

Bellevue College was awarded accreditation as a bachelor degree-conferring institution earlier this year by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which sets standards for all four-year institutions in Washington and nearby states.

Floten joined Bellevue College as president in 1989. Since then, the college has grown to become the third largest educational institution in Washington state, serving approximately 35,000 students annually.

The college was listed by Yahoo Finance in March as one of “15 Fantastic Higher Education Values” nationally.

A series of national, regional and local awards have recognized Floten’s contributions to higher education, most recently including an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree, conferred by City University; the Shirley B. Gordon Presidential Award of Distinction, from Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society; and the John L. Blackburn Award for Exemplary Models of Administrative Leadership, from the American Association of University Administrators.

Floten serves on the Educational Testing Service national advisory board, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Key Bank Advisory Board.

She earned Master of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Portland State University.

Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most widely known academic honor society, encourages and supports academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Its Pathfinder Award honors people “who encourage others to seek new worlds to discover, pathways to explore, and untouched destinations to reach.”